The European Parliament today took a major step to protecting the open internet in Europe and to setting a global standard for online freedoms.

Despite fierce lobbying from a coalition of the European Commission and former monopoly telecoms operators, Parliamentarians have supported the principle that the internet should remain open, competitive and democratic.

“The European Parliament today established the EU as the major global force to protect the freedom of the open internet”

said Joe McNamee, Executive Director of European Digital Rights.

“The value of the Internet is its openness – the European Commission’s efforts to experiment with the freedom of the internet in order to help a small number of companies is dangerous and short-sighted.”

The vote comes after a strong 5-year campaign from European Digital Rights and its allies, who has fought tirelessly for the values that are at the heart of the Internet’s value for citizens.

It is now up to the Member States in the Council to confirm Europe’s support for a free and open Internet.